More Thankfulness

A traditional way to celebrate holidays is to gather with family and/or friends for a meal. Here in the U.S. we have great cookouts and picnics on the Fourth of July. Certain specialty foods have become customary on various other holidays: birthday cakes; Christmas fruitcakes and candy canes; hot-crossed buns on Good Friday. Think of the wonderful array of foods served at all Hispanic festivals and Jewish celebrations.

While particular kinds of food help us celebrate most holidays, it has always seemed to me that the Thanksgiving holiday is ABOUT food. After all, autumn is harvest time. Legend has it that the Native Americans of the time and the early Pilgrims sat down together to share their food. What would Thanksgiving be without turkey and stuffing, cranberries, yams, and pumpkin pie?

Dear God,
where do we begin to say thanks?
You have given us all that we have:
you have given us our family and friends,
the ability to run, to think, to love,
and even to say "thank you" to you.

As we gather today with special foods,
help us to remember that every day
is a day to give thanks to you.

Please bless those children of yours
who do not have as much as we do,
and help us to understand how to share
what we have with them.
Thank you again for all your gifts. Amen.

from "Amen!" Prayers for Families with Children" by Kathleen Finley, Liguori Publications, 2005.

If you visit and read this blog, I invite you to leave a comment indicating where you live and what you are thankful for this holiday season. And I give thanks for you!